Shushma

F amily and Framilies- What it means to me I find it interesting when I hear people's thoughts of what family means to them. When I tell people, I adopted my daughter or when I was going to have my hysterectomy, the reaction was don't you want your own children, or having your own child is different to looking after someone else's child even though Layla was part of our family for over four years. That's that person's prerogative but don't dismiss my motherly love for my child or think I could love a 'biological' child more as I KNOW I couldn’t. It did make me think though that when their children marry, what kind of pressure would be put on them to have their 'biological' children but may not be able to due to whatever reasons. I am questioned by many how come my daughter calls me mom but why wouldn't she. She’s only known me as her mum and not her birth mum. I always think wh

                                The Year 2020! My book This year, 2020 will go down in history and we are all part of it. However, it’s been generalised that it has been a horrible year for ‘EVERYONE’ and while it has for some no doubt, due to their loved ones dying, NHS workers working tirelessly and people losing their jobs and for other reasons too. For others like me it has not, as I have a roof on my head, income coming in and my loved ones are safe. What more could I ask for.  For someone like me, it has been incredible year. How can I say this? Well, my worst year was 2009, when Arvind died, and it can’t get worse than that. So, while I miss my Nani and Shaun so much this year, it gives me comfort and hope knowing that both are well and safe and I CAN see them next year, all being well. Whereas Arvind I will never see again, never celebrate his birthday or Christmas again.  My life right now was never plan A. It wasn’t even in the scope of my plans such as writing a book, los

                    Weight loss and Exercise My breakfast  So many friends have asked me to write a blog on how I lost 23kgs, (nearly 4 stones) when I didn’t leave the home for over 4 and half months.  I have never been a couch girl and have always been active. But there’s a difference between being active and getting your heart pumping. So what did I do? The most important thing I believe if you want to lose weight or get fit, is that it is not about will- power but all about your mental state and your mind set. You have to be ready and motivated inside and that’s about it being personally rewarding to you rather than losing it because you are going on holiday or it’s a new year which is an extrinsic motivator. That is short term.    Running -When the original shielding kicked in, I had headspace to grief (I didn’t need to wear the ‘mask’) and I could deal with daily life and so I stopped comfort eating but gradually. So instead of the 150g bag of crisps it was half a bag then a small